NASA managers carry out further STS-335 to STS-135 alignment evaluations

September 16, 2010 by Chris Bergin

NASA managers are continuing to work the alignment process between the STS-335 LON (Launch On Need) rescue role of Atlantis – in support of STS-134 – and the yet-to-be-funded STS-135 mission. The process – which ranges from requirements on the International Space Station (ISS), to the External Tanks – allows for a smooth transition to baselining STS-135, when funded.

STS-135 PRCB Evaluations:

On the official manifest, both Endeavour and Atlantis are being processed for their respective roles relating to STS-134, with Endeavour carrying out the primary mission, and Atlantis being processed through a full Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) flow in readiness to rescue the STS-134 crew from the ISS, in the highly unlikely event Endeavour is unable to return to Earth.

As part of the requirements to protect STS-135, STS-335’s timelines were moved to align with the notional STS-135 launch date. The STS-335 crew were also selected, and are being trained for the STS-135 mission – per Single System Trainers (SST) records at the Johnson Space Center (JSC).

The selected crew was announced this week, comprising of Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley – which was expected, per SST records ahead of the announcement. They are joined by Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.

A Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) presentation – available on L2 – expanded on the alignment process, first outlining the additional length of time a ‘stranded’ STS-134 crew could be hosted by the ISS until Atlantis could rescue them – a factor known as CSCS (Contingency Shuttle Crew Support).

“STS-335 CSCS for STS-134: Specific analysis for the CSCS consumables is not initiated until L-2 months. The preliminary estimates for CSCS is 4+ months. Food will probably be the ‘long pole’,” noted the PRCB presentation.

“Estimates do not include any consumables that the Russians could bring up. At the SORR (Stage Operations Readiness Review) (at L-1 month) and FRR (Flight Readiness Review) for STS-134 the exact CSCS consumables will be reported and schedules can be modified at that time if required.”

“Due to the time required to change the cargo bay configuration, the STS-335 cargo bay is being configured to match what the STS-135 cargo bay would be if the agency decides to add STS-135,” the presentation continued.

All departments added their approval to the aforementioned changes, although the whole issue of funding is clearly the outstanding problem with comments of funding for contractor launch support personnel contracts running out in March, 2011 noted, along with a need for a contract extension, at a cost that is currently unknown.

“Proposes that the decision to place ET-122 on the stack be deferred as late as possible, to November 9th, after the expiration of the early November launch window,” noted one department on the PRCB presentation,

“While we believe both tanks to be safe, there are marginal enhancements to ET-138 which make it preferable as the last tank to fly. Once the building of the STS-134 stack has begun, it would be undesirable to switch tanks.

“If STS-133 launches in the early November launch window and STS-135 is still a possibility, then we would agree that the STS-134 stack should include ET-122.

“MOD recommends the program re-visit the STS-134 and STS-335 ET assignments prior to ET-SRB mate for STS-134.”

“When ET-122 arrives at KSC it will be lifted into the VAB HB-4 (High Bay 4) Checkout cell for processing since ET-138 currently is occupying the HB-2 Checkout Cell,” noted KSC managers on the presentation.

“The STS-134 SRB stack is currently located in HB-1 and will have to be ‘rolled around’ to HB-3 after STS-133 rolls out to the pad in order to support and ET-122/BI-145 (STS-134) ET/SRB mate.

“Response: Putting ET-122 on STS-134 will result in ET mate moving to Nov 18th, to support VAB OPS for the 18th, KSC final tank decision date is Nov 10th.”

All departments concurred with the outlined points, though added a few changes will be required in the event of swapping hardware previously designated for STS-134, with STS-335/135, based on expiring certification periods, based on a June 28, 2011 launch date.

“ET-138: Camera Electronics Package expires on 3/14/11 due to battery age, which would require the following: a) initiate a waiver to fly with the expired age sensitive hardware, b) Perform Electronics Package reconditioning at KSC prior to launch).”

The ET Chief Engineer noted his concurrence on those recommendations, while MAF noted they have two spare Electronics Packages in stock, and that the replacement could be carried out at KSC if required.

As has been previously noted, Atlantis will remain as the STS-335 LON vehicle – regardless of funding – until Endeavour safely lands at the conclusion of STS-134, at which point STS-335 will be official stood down.